Exams You Need To Take To Study Abroad After Class 12

Studying abroad is an aspiration that many Indian students have. However, the process of getting admitted into an aspirational university abroad is not simple. This is primarily due to the difference in education systems and patterns across various countries. Undergraduate and graduate admissions in universities abroad are significantly different from those in India. Whilst there is a growing level of convergence between different higher education systems across the world, admission processes, and specifically entrance exams for abroad studies continue to be a critical stepping stone for students from India.

Exams For Studying Abroad

If you are a student aspiring to study abroad, here are some of the entrance exams for abroad studies you may be required to take.

Aptitude Tests

Aptitude tests measure students’ proficiency and knowledge in specific and defined fields. Some are more open-ended (SAT and ACT) entrance exams for foreign universities whilst some are targeted for certain courses (BMAT and LNAT). These tests are highly competitive and warrant rigorous preparation from students.

SAT | The SAT entrance exam for foreign universities is perhaps one of the oldest and most relevant exams that students intending to study abroad need to take. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the SAT score was a compulsory requirement as one of the exams to study abroad after 12th for admissions to undergraduate programmes in the US. However, due to limitations placed on students’ ability to take exams due to the pandemic, most colleges in the US had made it an optional requirement. However, SAT scores continued to play a very important role in determining students’ acceptance to leading universities. Despite the test-optional policy, it continues to be an important marker of students’ aptitude and proficiency, and hence, students with high SAT scores tend to get better results as compared to those who choose not to take the test. Moreover, as the pandemic is receding across the world, universities and colleges in the US have gradually started to re-introduce it as a mandatory requirement. Then, the SAT entrance exam for abroad studies has gradually re-gained importance across the world. Many global universities including NUS (Singapore), Ashoka University (India), Jindal Global University (India) have also started accepting the SAT as a proficiency measure. The SAT is conducted about five times in a calendar year (March, May, August, October, and December) outside the United States and is open to all students presently attending high school. Here are some more details about the SAT entrance exam for abroad studies :-

• The SAT as one of the abroad entrance exams, in its present state, is a test with a maximum score of 1600 (and minimum score being 400) which tests students’ proficiency in English (evidence-based reading and writing) and Mathematics (154 questions in 3 hours). It is administered by CollegeBoard.
• The SAT entrance exam for abroad studies also has a writing test, in which students are scored out of 6. However, this is an optional component and is a strong determinant of admissions (primarily because universities use their own essays to test students’ writing proficiencies).
• Then, the SAT as one of the exams to study abroad after 12th also has subject tests of 800 marks each, which are higher-level assessments of students’ proficiencies in specific subjects. Whilst these are not compulsory, they go a long way in enabling admissions to some of the most prestigious courses in leading universities.
• Students aiming to study the sciences or engineering are encouraged to take subjects exams to study abroad after 12th if they are not otherwise appearing for the Advanced Placement Examinations.

ACT | The ACT entrance exam for abroad studies is a counterpart to the SAT and plays a very important role in admissions to universities in the United States. Similar to the SAT, ACT’s importance as one of the abroad entrance exams is resurging, with it becoming a compulsory requirement for admissions due to the gradual decline of Covid-19 cases across the world.

• Unlike the SAT, the focus of which is limited to Mathematics and English, ACT tests students’ scientific acumen as well.
• The ACT entrance exam for foreign universities has a total possible score of 36 and has four different sections- Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and Science.
• Students are marked on 36 for each section and the overall score is calculated by calculating a simple average of sectional scores. The SAT is organised seven times in India- February, April, June, July, September, October, and December.

With respect to the SAT and the ACT entrance exam for abroad studies , students can not only take the tests multiple times, but most universities also accept super scores for students. This implies that students can choose their best sectional scores from different test attempts to create an overall ‘super score’. This allows students to optimise and streamline their preparation for subsequent attempts.

The ACT Entrance Exam For Abroad Studies Plays A Very Important Role In Admissions To Universities In The United States

English Proficiency Tests

Unlike aptitude tests, English proficiency entrance exams for abroad studies do not measure students’ knowledge, but instead focus on their ability to communicate in English. Whilst English proficiency tests require relatively less intense preparation, they are required for admissions (and visa) in almost all international universities. Hence, all students from Indian schools aspiring to study abroad should prepare for English proficiency tests as one of the abroad entrance exams. Unlike aptitude tests, universities tend to have defined and strict cut offs for English proficiency tests, which make them critical as well. The two most popular English proficiency tests are IELTS and TOEFL.

IELTS | The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) entrance exam for abroad studies is perhaps the most popular and widely-accepted English proficiency test. Students are assessed across four parameters- Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening on a score of 9, with the average of four sections being taken to calculate the overall score. It is presently administered by iDP. Students are required to take the IELTS Academic Test either electronically or physically, depending on their comfort level and skills.

TOEFL | The Test of English as a Foreign Language is an English proficiency test administered by ETS. Whilst it is focused on US admissions, it has also become a popular entrance exam for foreign universities universally accepted in the past few years. Similar to the IELTS, students’ proficiencies are accessed across four parameters- Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening. The maximum score for each section is 30 and the aggregate score is calculated by summing the score for each component.

Miscellaneous Tests

Beyond the SAT and the ACT entrance exams for abroad studies, different universities and courses require students to take different tests for admissions. These are primarily centred around professional courses such as medicine and law. Some examples of the abroad entrance exams are:-

• LNAT: For LLB (law) in the UK
• BMAT: For MBBS (Medicine) in the UK
• MCAT: For MBBS (Medicine) in the UK
• ISAT: For MBBS (Medicine) in Australia

To earn competitive scores in entrance exams for abroad studies , students are encouraged to plan in advance and prepare rigorously. It is also important to take external help and practise sample papers for abroad entrance exams repeatedly to improve scores over a period of time.

Vijeeth Srinivas is a development consultant with more than extensive experience in the foreign education industry. With the Centre for Career Development and Essai Education he has helped hundreds of students secure positions in leading universities abroad. He is keen to make novel developments in education and skill development more accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.